Free The Secret Life of Bryan by Lori Foster

homes and was in an orphanage for a bit.” She left out the people who pretended to care but didn’t. She left out a chunk of little girl hurt and fear and desperation.
    “Jesus.”
    He looked so outraged on her behalf, she jumped straight into the happier parts. “When I was almost seven, I got lucky. I got adopted.” Just thinking of her first few weeks with her new parents had her smiling again. “Mom and Dad are incredible. They didn’t think they could have kids, so they took me into their home and treated me like I was their own. Later, they did have a baby. So I also have a little sister.”
    He finally made a few notes, his gaze repeatedly coming back to her face as if he couldn’t stop looking at her. “Won’t these people worry?”
    “They know I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
    “Do they know how you take care of yourself?”
    She wouldn’t outright lie, and if he chose to make more assumptions, it was no more than he deserved.
    “They know.” Thinking of all the times her parents had lamented her stubbornness, she grinned. “They gave up on telling me what to do when I was about fifteen.”
    His brows snapped down. “You’ve been on your own since then?”
    “No. I didn’t move out until I was seventeen. But I’ve been fairly self-sufficient since before I was in high school.” Mostly because she’d always needed a challenge, because she’d been innovative in making her own money through one scheme or another, because she’d gone on to college only months after turning seventeen with a full academic scholarship. Even as a young child she’d been driven by demons to do, to make a difference, to fulfill promises to herself that no one knew about and no one would understand.
    Her parents would have gladly given her the moon if it were possible, but they knew she wouldn’t accept it, not if there was a single chance she’d be able to get it on her own.
    After a few tense, silent moments, Bryan asked, “What about your sister?”
    “Her name’s Brandi.”
    “You two close?”
    “We are.” But then, thinking of the last vacation Shay had forced on her sister, and the results, she winced. “At least, when I don’t interfere too much in her life.”
    “What the hell does that mean?”
    He sounded offended on her behalf. It felt odd because usually she was the one trying to take care of everyone, whether they wanted her to or not. Normally she rebelled against anyone worrying for her, but she liked Bryan’s concern.
    “It means I can be a real pain in the patoot. Brandi isn’t like me. She’s sweet and shy and quiet.”
    “And you’re not?”
    That made her laugh. “What do you think?”
    “I think sweet and shy has its place, but on you it’d be ridiculous.”
    “Gee, thanks.” She couldn’t help but chuckle over that backhanded compliment. “Brandi takes after our parents, who are small with dark hair and eyes. She’s pretty. Not a big gangly girl like myself.”
    “Gangly?” His mouth curled in wry amusement. “Fishing for a compliment?”
    Shay grinned. “Would you give me one?”
    “No. You’re cocky enough as it is.” He tapped his pen with growing impatience. “So the two of you are different and that causes problems?”
    “Sometimes. Where I’m too outspoken and brazen for my own good, Brandi is always circumspect and proper. At times, I try to force her to be more outgoing. We’re opposites, but she’s my sister and I love her.”
    “Your stepsister.”
    “If you want to get technical. But I don’t think of her that way.”
    The devotion and love of her family had never been in doubt. She was considered their firstborn, and Brandi was her little sister, in every way that mattered to the heart.
    “My life isn’t an unhappy one, Bryan. And the truth is, I’m much luckier than most people could ever hope to be.”
    He disregarded her reassurance with a shake of his head. “Is there anyone who might be interested in